Clifton CC

OK, so I'll start. Must be lots of tales from this weekend. Rumour has it that Kevin put a number on his back again....

Spurn Head for me. Fabulous ride, it had a bit of everything. Some very fast group riding, a bit of rough stuff, sand, concrete waffle, flatlands, docklands, urban freestyle....

I felt better at the end of this ride than for any long ride in some time. Testament to the even pace set by my 13 companions. JonG, Darren, AndyG, AndyT, Marcus (and two Uni friends), Gill, PeteN, Mark, Steen, Broomy plus another chap who, despite me asking, never divulged his name, must be an agent... There was rarely more than a metre between wheels for 160 miles and we must have looked cooler than cool

Thanks for a great day out.

Something sensible next week, like Cockayne.....

Then it's Tan Hill Back Entry - which will be hard. Watch this space.

Thanks to all for the Spurn ride, I thought it was the best one so far. Looking forward to Darren's write up.

Apologies for it all going to pieces at the end there. I knew the youngsters were itching to show how fresh their legs were after 150 miles and when Andy rode off the front looking for a place for a quick comfort break I was determined not to let them have it all quite their own way. And besides Andy will get his own back many times over by unwittingly putting me through purgatory every time the road goes upwards on the way back from Edinburgh.

A couple of spare hours only this weekend and managed to squeeze in Howsham, Gally Gap, Lepppington to Leavening, Leavening Bank, Acklam Mast (both sides) and some fantastic panoramic views from the steaming towers of West Yorkshire, the distant dales, White Horse, the Howardians and round to the the eastern end of the North Yorks Moors.
Hardly the longest ride of the weekend but well up there with the most scenic.

Well done the Spurned Ones - it was the one ride I had really wanted to do this year so not a happy chappee to miss it.

Thanks to everyone for having myself - for my first club ride - and my 2 friends on the Spurn Head ride.

As Broom said, apologies for us splitting off at the end but once Frazer saw Andy jumping off the front he saw it as a personal challenge and I had to follow!

Really looking forward to more riding in the future, thanks again.

Quite a day yesterday to Spurn Head – I skipped out of the driveway at 7:00am, and rolled back in 13 hours later like a sack of spuds hung over the back of an ox. As Rob said, 14 of us in the Square. Marcus’ two friends were Frazer and Rory, both from near London. Simon was the nameless one in Rob’s report.

A light westerly tailwind had us flying out through Stamford Bridge through Millington to Huggate where the only King of the Mountains points were decided for the day. We then circled south of Driffield through Rotsea for the first off-road section. In prior years, we were spread out like brown’s cows through this section, including a few punctures thrown in. This year, I looked over my shoulder when we hit the canal bridge and the entire 14 were surging onto the steel platform ready for more.

After Brandesburton, it was left, right, left, right, through Roos (Kanga country!), all the way to Withernsea. As Rob pointed out, the Group was flying like an exceptionally well-oiled oily thing. I counted 3 occasions on the way through that area when we were actually applauded by people as we flew by (…probably because they hadn’t seen a bicycle since the War!). For the last 10 miles into Withernsea, we were lined out in an impressive train - in fact the difficulty was trying to keep a lid on things for the remainder. We had absolutely caned the time clock to this point, arriving in Withernsea at 11:15am, blowing the lid off the average mph and seriously p*ssing off the café ladies who were forced to start their shift early.

After Withernsea, we headed south past the Easington wind farms towards Spurn Head. This year, weather damage had closed the road half way down the sand-strewn cobbles on the way to the Point and we had to cyclo-cross for 100 metres. Spurn Head looked as glorious as ever - rusty pylons on crumbling walls, tumbleweed and even a passing channel ferry to greet us! The view across the mouth of the Humber to Grimsby was emotional.

The trip back started with the forgotten nowhere lands of Sunk Island and Paull. Then came our now traditional fuel stop at a roadside service station in urban Hull, followed by a romantic sojourn along the Hull Riviera on the banks of the Humber. Broomo then re-lived his mis-spent youth by navigating his way through steel fences, broken glass and concrete stairways to take us across the roofs of industrial warehouses – not many get to say that after a ride!

The miles piled on: South Cave, North Cave and Everingham all blending together. The Group was still in tight formation and turns on the front were rotating through half a dozen diesel types. Broomo’s description of shenanigans with the youngsters almost ended badly (one day I’ll tell you about that Broomo). Nevertheless, all was well with the rest of us as we happily trundled back to York.

What a day!…171 miles D2D and the overall moving average was a chunky 17.2 mph, including all the slow sections, which was awesome for the distance. Only 4 p*******’s on the day, a pair each for Steen and Broomo. The Group really was superbly balanced and I don’t recall waiting for anyone. Huge thanks go to all for a memorable day, particularly Rob, for navigating us superbly.

With limited availability for the remainder of the Challenge series, I’m forced to consider outlaying stupid amounts of hard-earned for the equivalent of a regulation club run on the Ron Kitching next Saturday; not sure whether anyone else faces the same dilemma? I’ll be at the start line at 8:00.

D.

It was out with the 8:45 lads on Saturday for Tony G's 3 hour mystery tour & then the Spurn Head Ride on Sunday for me. Thanks to everyone on both rides that helped the total of 210miles in two days pass so easily

Darren N wrote:
With limited availability for the remainder of the Challenge series, I’m forced to consider outlaying stupid amounts of hard-earned for the equivalent of a regulation club run on the Ron Kitching next Saturday; not sure whether anyone else faces the same dilemma? I’ll be at the start line at 8:00.

D.

Absolutely agree. I can't bring myself to shell out that much. Used to enjoy this when it was a few quid and a friendly low key event......

Thanks to all, especially Rob, for one of my most memorable days on a bike!
Felt like being in the movie BMX Bandits as we flew around the quayside pavements and derelict warehouses!

Seriously brilliant day!



Mark

Another excellent ride to spurn point. Certainly a unique club ride and not one you want to be doing regularly. Thanks to everybody for towing me round the 160 miles. A minor tumble for me on the 'road' back from ' the point' itself when I got bogged down in sand. It is ride that suits my physique though with it been predominantly flat. However didn't do myself any favours on the weight loss front when I indulged in a full English breakfast at whithensea.
But hey we still had 100 miles to go, it certainly provided the calories

Jon